Breaking News: Asia

China consumer, wholesale inflation tops estimates in April as Iran war drives energy costs higher
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China consumer, wholesale inflation tops estimates in April as Iran war drives energy costs higher

A shopper walks past a Coach retail store inside a shopping mall on March 24, 2026 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images China’s consumer and producer inflation jumped more than expected in April as the Middle East conflict drives commodity costs higher, offering a reflationary boost to the economy. Consumer prices […]

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South Korea’s Kospi hits fresh record as Asia markets trade mixed amid oil surge, Iran risks
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South Korea’s Kospi hits fresh record as Asia markets trade mixed amid oil surge, Iran risks

South Korea’s Kospi opened at a fresh record Monday, leading gains in Asia-Pacific markets amid rising oil prices and escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. President Donald Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s latest proposal to end the war, however, stoked worries over an elongated Middle East conflict. Iran submitted a new proposal to U.S. negotiators focused […]

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Toyota fourth-quarter profit misses by wide margin as U.S. tariffs drive 49% slump
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Toyota fourth-quarter profit misses by wide margin as U.S. tariffs drive 49% slump

Toyota signage at the New York International Auto Show in New York City on April 2, 2026. Danielle DeVries | CNBC Japan’s Toyota Motor on Friday reported a 49% drop in fourth-quarter operating profit, missing analysts’ estimates as U.S. tariffs and intensifying competition from Chinese automakers pressured earnings. Here are Toyota’s results compared with median estimates from LSEG: Revenue: 12.6 […]

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Asia-Pacific markets set to open lower on fresh Iran-U.S. tensions following clashes
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Asia-Pacific markets set to open lower on fresh Iran-U.S. tensions following clashes

Offshore vessel ‘Zakher Duty’ at the Port of Fujairah, as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran limits marine traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, May 6, 2026. Amr Alfiky | Reuters Asia-Pacific markets were set to open lower Friday, as concerns grew over renewed hostilities between Iran and the U.S. amid […]

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Asia-Pacific markets set to track Wall Street gains as Trump signals de-escalation in Iran conflict
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Asia-Pacific markets set to track Wall Street gains as Trump signals de-escalation in Iran conflict

A man looks at a screen showing global stock market information on the street in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to open higher, tracking Wall Street gains overnight as a drop in oil prices and strong earnings lifted investor sentiment. Signaling diplomatic efforts for resolving the Middle East crisis […]

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HSBC first-quarter pre-tax profit misses estimates on wider-than-expected credit losses
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HSBC first-quarter pre-tax profit misses estimates on wider-than-expected credit losses

Europe’s largest lender HSBC on Tuesday reported first-quarter pre-tax profit of $9.4 billion, marginally missing analysts’ estimates on the back of larger-than-expected credit losses and other impairment charges. HSBC’s revenue gained 6%, year on year, exceeding estimates. Here are HSBC’s first-quarter results compared with the consensus estimates compiled by the bank. Pre-tax profit: $9.4 billion vs. $9.59 billion […]

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Asia markets set to open mixed after Trump unveils plan to free ships in Hormuz
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Asia markets set to open mixed after Trump unveils plan to free ships in Hormuz

A screen displays the Nikkei 225 Stock Average figure on the trading floor at the Nomura Securities Co. headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 11, 2024.  Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to open mixed Monday as investors assess President Donald Trump’s plan to “free” ships stranded in the Strait of […]

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Australia and Japan markets climb, looking past Iran war escalation fears
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Australia and Japan markets climb, looking past Iran war escalation fears

Pedestrians at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Brendon Thorne | Bloomberg | Getty Images Markets in Australia and Japan mostly rose Friday, mirroring gains on Wall Street that saw both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reach new highs. This comes as investors took in strong earnings from Apple […]

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China factory activity tops expectations in April — but growth slows as new orders soften
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China factory activity tops expectations in April — but growth slows as new orders soften

Workers producing garments at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast fashion e-commerce company Shein in Guangzhou in southern China’s Guangdong province. Jade Gao | Afp | Getty Images China’s factory activity topped analysts’ expectations in April, although growth slowed from the prior month when it hit a year-high, as new orders saw a […]

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Australia reports lower-than-expected first-quarter inflation — but price rise highest in 2 years
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Australia reports lower-than-expected first-quarter inflation — but price rise highest in 2 years

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 06: Pedestrians and shoppers move along George Street on December 06, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. Lisa Maree Williams | Getty Images News | Getty Images Australia’s inflation rate soared to 4.09% in the first quarter, marking its highest level in more than two years. The first-quarter inflation figure was lower than the […]

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